The groundhog came out of his hole on February 2, saw a photo of DonnyT and left for Canada. The Doomsday Clock was designed by a group of scientists in 1947 to depict just how close the World is to its nuclear annihilation. In 2017 and 2018 the clock moved and stayed at two minutes to midnight. This is the closest it has been in such a dangerous position since 1953, when the US and the Soviet Union developed thermonuclear weapons. The farthest away it has been is 17 minutes at the end of the Cold War. Prez 45 has paved a path for Russia’s growing global ambitions by threatening to leave Syria and Afghanistan, weakening NATO, and reducing sanctions on Russian oligarchs. Is he doing as he is told by the Kremlin? The trail of evidence in his actions indicates something very suspicious. Mueller knows what evil lurks in the heart of Donald J. Trump.

On January 29, Nancy Pelosi’s plan to reopen the government without funds for a border wall was accepted by the president. Her denial of a place in the House Chamber for the State of the Union address was classic. The 35-day shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, and cost our economy up to $11 billion. Over a million federal workers and contractors were kidnap victims held for ransom. This will hold only until February 15, when DonnyT pouts he will close the government down again if no “wall.”

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said he didn't "really quite understand why" federal workers who missed paychecks due to the partial government shutdown didn't just take out loans to cover the gap. Wilbur Ross never went without a meal. Wilbur Ross is out of touch with 99% of Americans. This mumbling, bumbling apparatchik has the empathy of a Platyhelminthes.

All of this for a “wall” opposed by 55% of voters. Increased surveillance at entry points would detect more of the smuggled narcotics and human trafficking than steel or concrete. Drones, more judges to oversee cases involving asylum seekers, and better living conditions for those in custody should be supported.

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Also, on January 29, Roger Stone, who has known and advised Donald Trump for decades was indicted by Robert Mueller and his special counsel. Stone faces seven charges of lying to Congress, obstruction of justice, and possible collusion. Stone joins the cadre of Trump supporters facing possible prison time. He joins six former Trump advisers, 26 Russian nationals, three Russian companies, one California man, and one London-based lawyer. Seven have pleaded guilty. “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit.” (Orson Welles as the Shadow.)

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My wife and I recently saw “Christopher Robin” on DVD. Based on the Winnie the Pooh stories of AA Milne, the tale tells of Robin growing up and away from his childhood fantasy friends, and then regaining the comfort of their company. None of us should be separated from our friends, real or imagined. We know some are make-believe, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. They can be much fun. Two of Milne’s pet ideas seem appropriate at this time: the Woozle effect is a term for an indication based on weak or no evidence that leads the public to thinking or believing the statement is true. This leads to zeitgeist, urban myths, factoids, and fake news. Think Phok Snooze. The other concept is the Heffalump: this elephant-like creature exists only in dreams. But a Heffalump is better than no lump at all.